2001 D45 Has "Q" Brakes??

[NJT5047]

Just sitting here sipping an adult bev and reading the Eplace ads.  Saw a 2001 D4500 listed and the ad says the bus has "Q" brakes on the tag and steer axles, and spring brakes on the drive axle.  Goes on to state "no DD3s"...
What are "Q" brakes, and when did newer coaches start using spring brakes on drive axles?  I'm aware that some older coaches..maybe Eagles and GMs used spring brakes? 
I have no problem at all with spring brakes.  Trucks almost exclusively use them.  So much simpler than DD3s.  However, I ain't going to modify mine.   Just curious?
Also saw a really nice looking Prevost H3-45 (I think?) that has a buy it now for $279.
Hate to be selling that item now....love to own it!  Not for $279.  Great looking item though.   Gotta quit looking at those bus ads!   Makes my 9 look sooo poor! 
There were two H3s listed and they both had exactly the same bid amounts...down to the change...that's interesting.  One was BIK for $279K and the othe was BIN for $779K..or thereabouts.  Same people are probably playing around knowing that they won't get either of them.
I don't know about newer bus prices, but the 2001 D4500 was BIN for $200K...that seems a little high. In fact, that seems way high for a D model.  Nice coach probably, but one can find nice E45 and J45 (and H3-45s) models in that price range.   
I would have thought costs were coming down, and instead, they're going up.  Or newer equipment is coming on the market and the prices reflect items that have not been there before? 
Whatever. 
Well, reckon I'll have to pull my bus out, run the chickens out, and get it ready to use.  I'm going to change out the 8ds this weekend.  If anyone needs a couple useable 8ds, let me know.  I'm going to trade another old set of 8ds that I have here.   So the take-outs will end up here..for a while.  Damn likely forever's more like it. 
Got to re-battery the golf car too....gads.  I'm going to go broke!  Just bought 20 golf car batteries for my electric car.   Had to chase all over town to locate 20 batteries with the same date stamp.  Sams had them, but only a few per store. 
Oh well.....life goes on.   
Whose going to be at the FMCA gathering Saturday week at Charlotte?  I'll be there.   As long as the monsoons don't set in.  I believe the locals are calling for nice weather for most of next week.   Probably shouldn't have said that??  Probably just jinxed  the rally weather.
JR


 

[belfert]

Could prices be going up on newer coaches as operators switch to newer buses for better fuel economy and because customers demand 45' coaches?

On the other hand, I would expect to see charter demand going down as operators have to charge more due to diesel prices so operators would be less likely to buy buses.

[NJT 5573]

JR, A "P" means you have to remove the anchor pin to change the shoe. If you use "Q"s the hole in the shoe is cut off so you can change the shoe without removing the anchor pin. The 2 are interchangeable. There are variables, but I think this covers your issue.

[JackConrad]

 Whose going to be at the FMCA gathering Saturday week at Charlotte?  I'll be there.   As long as the monsoons don't set in.  I believe the locals are calling for nice weather for most of next week.   Probably shouldn't have said that??  Probably just jinxed  the rally weather.
JR

JR,
   We wil be at the rally. We are going to Gary & Linda's tomorrow. We may swing by your place on our way to Charlotte (actually Concord). We will let you know after we get to Gary's and discuss our route with them.  We are going into the campground on Tuesday 4/8 (want to have time to go to several race shops). If not before, we will ya'll at the rally. Jack

[Sammy]

JR, surprised to see that the 2001 didn't have air disc brakes.
I had "Q" brakes on the Eagle Model 15's we ran. Have 'em on some MC12's too.
Was told the "Q" stood for "quick",easy to replace shoes, not sure if that's true or not,lol.

[NJT 5573]

Thats right Sammy. You just unhook the big spring and pull the shoe off. Q is for quick. With Ps you have to pound the pin out of the roller, remove the roller and then the shoe will come off.

[NJT5047]

Interesting. Never even heard the term "Q" brakes before reading the Ebay ad.
When did spring brakes appear on newer buses?  And are disc   brakes used on solid axles?
See a good many independent fronts these days.  Looks like great expense to repair.

Jack, I'll be digging out the bus this weekend.  Hope that sucker starts!  We'll be here all weekend and all day Monday.  Tuesday, Wed, and any other day works great too!
Come on by anytime!   Gary has my home address.  Give me a call if you need directions.
Regarding the race-car shops...lots of those around LMS.  Up towards Moorsville, Concord, really all over.  Our community colleges even offer NASCAR automotive mechanical and even team management curriculum. 
Tell Gary and Linda HI!  Hope all's going well for Gary and Linda.
JR  704 650 0235